Game apparatus



Dec. 16, l 3fio L. D. SOUBIER ET AL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC LEONARD D. SOUBIER AND EDWIN J. CARIQIOF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGrNOIRS TO AMERICAN PATENTS CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OI OHIO GAME APPARATUS Application filed January 4, 1930. Serial No. 418,512.

Our inventionrelates to improvements in game apparatus and more particularly means facilitating practice in playing golf.

An object of our invention is the provision of a novel game apparatus whereby one may improve his or her game of golf without the necessity of playing many rounds of golf on links in the usual manner. To this end there is provided a target, a semi-automatic ball teeing device, and means for returning driven golf balls from the target to said teeing device. The target is divided into zones whereby the player ma determine whether his drives are straight hooking or slicing.

Another object is the provision of a driving platform having a tee thereon, and mechanical means manually controlled, for placing golf balls in driving position on the tee. To this end said mechanical means operates without necessitating movement of the tee, to accurately place golf balls on the latter in driving position.

A further object-is the provision of an apparatus of the above character wherein the tee is arranged in an area simulating a grass plot whereby, among other advantages, is provided means for cushioning inaccurate blows of golf clubs.

A still further object is the provision of novel mechanism for delivering golf balls one at a time to a position from which they are conveyed to the tee. I

Other objects will be in part apparent and ,in part pointed out hereinafter.

' in the reservoir shown in Fig. 3. v

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation taken in front of the ball reservoir.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the teeing paratus after having been driven against the target. In order thatthe golfer may determine whether his drives are straight,

booking, or slicing the target is divided into zones so relatively disposed that the golfer may obtainsuch information by look ing at the target after each drive.

p More specifically, the apparatus comprises a platform 10 or base including a rear portion 11 of relatively large area to support a player, and a forward portion 12 on. which the tee and, for the greater part, the ball teeing mechanisms are supported, bothsaid portions being rigidly connected together by a separate section 13. This platform includ ing the three sections is elevated above a floor or the like by legs 14.

The rear portion 11 or section is of such area that a golfer may assume any of the various stances necessary to correct faults in his play.- This section may be separably connected to the central section 13 by bolts 15.

The forward portion 12 or section upon which most of the mechanism is mounted occupies the same plane as the remaining sections. A tee 16-of suitable form is connected to the forward section thru the provision of a holder 17 removably set in a frame. 18, the latter secured to the lower side of said forward section and spanning a vertical opening 19 thru which the tee extends upwardly to a point where it may support a ball in driving position. The tee holder 17 may be in. the form of a slide having a'tongue and groove connection to the frame 18 as indicated in Fig. 3. The tee may be, and preferably is formed of resilient material so that its life may be rolonged considerably beyond that of the usual tee.

The teeing mechanism is such that, without requiring any movement whatsoever on the art of the tee, golf balls may be accurately placed on the latter merely by foot actuation of a pedal or lever located in proximity to the playing position of the golfer. This is accomp ished by providing a reservoir 20 on the forward section, said reservoir constituting a feeder as well as a holder for a number of golf balls. The reservoir is set into a vertical opening 21 in said section 12, having its receiving end below and its discharge end above the platform. An accurate assageway 22 extends vertically thru, an in fact forms the reservoir, the lower portion of the passageway having an inlet opening 23 extending laterally thru one wall 24 (Fig. 3). An ejector 25 closes the lower end of the passageway and is operable to eject balls one at a time thru the outlet 26 which is disposed in a plane above, and faces, the tee 16.

Balls are ejected one at a time due to upward movement of all balls in the passageway 22 a distance corresponding substantially to the diameter of the ball. This is accomplished by actuation of the ejector 25 which is in the form of an arm or plate whose area is slightly less than the cross-sectional area of the passageway. This arm is carried by a rotary sleeve 27 mounted on a shaft 28 journaled in bearing openings 29 in the opposed vertical walls 24 of the reservoir. A plate 30 arranged at right angles to the arm is carried by the sleeve in such position that it closes the inlet opening 23 when the ejector moves for the purpose of discharging a ball thru the outlet 26.

Movement of the ejector 25 is manually controlled and involves the formation of a gear segment 31 on the plate 30 adapted to mesh with a driving gear segment 32. the latter mounted on a horizontal shaft 33. This shaft 33, to which the gear segment 32 is secured, is journaled in bearings 34 depending from the forward section 12 of the platform. Oscillation of this shaft by which the ejector is actuated, is obtained by means including a lever 35 or arm secured to one end of the shaft 33 and to a rod 36, the latter connecting the lever to a foot pedal 37 or lever. This pedal or lever is pivoted on a horizontal hinge pin 38 near the inner end of the platform in such position that the player may depress it and thru the rod 36 and lever 35 cause movement of the-ejector upwardly in the passageway. An opening 39 in the platform accommodates the pedal 37 or lever. A coil spring 40 connecting the rod 36 and a finger 41 on the central section 13 of the platform yieldingly resists movement of the rod under foot pressure and after the pedal or lever has been released, returns the rod to its normal position. Too rapid returns of the rod to its normal position is prevented by an air cushioning device 42 of any well known form secured to the section 13. The piston rod 43 of this device is connected to a lever 44 pivoted to a vertical hinge pin 45 and secured against relative movement to a lever 46, the latter having pin and slot connection to the rod 36. j

A spring pressed detent 47 (Fig. 3) in one wall of the passageway 22 operates automatically to prevent downward movement of balls in the passageway after each ejecting operation. Thus after each ejection a space is provided between the ejector and the next adj acent ball in the passageway to accommodate an incoming ball which moves by gravity down an inclined way 48 formed in the up er side and extending transversely of the orward or outer section 12.

Means for placing ejected golf balls in driving position on the tee 16 comprises a track or Way 49 upon which the balls run as they leave the passageway. This track is adapted to assume two different positions, one above the platform and the other below. A pair of parallel bars comprise the track49 and are pivoted at one end to hinge pins 50 on the side walls 24 of the reservoir. When in operative position above the platform the track is inclined toward the tee so that balls placed thereon move by gravity to the lower end, the latter being forked to provide a seat 51 into which the upper end of the tee extends a short distance. After a ball has rolled down the track to the seat 51, the track is lowered to the full line position (Fig. 3), leaving the ball in driving position on the tee. A pair of parallel slots 52 in the platform allow movement of the bars forming the track, between $3516 full and dotted line positions shown in Movement of the track 49 between said positions is obtained by a pair of links 53 pivoted to the bars and in turn connected to a link 54, the latter secured to and adapted to oscillate with the shaft 33. Thus when the ejector 25 is moved to eject a ball from the passageway 22 the track 49 automatically assumes a position to receive the ejected ball and convey it to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3.

In order that the surface in the immediate vicinity of the tee may be more nearly representative of a section of a fairway on a golf course, a mass of bristles 55 or the like is arranged as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7. A plate or carrier 56 is set into a transverse way 57 in the forward section 12 of the platform. The bristles are suitably afiixed to the plate. Slots 59 are formed in the plate 56 and plot of bristles and provide extensions of the slots 52 thru which the bars forming the track 49 are swung between operative and inoperative positions.

Under some circumstances, as where this apparatus is used on out-of-door practice golf HIO courses, balls may be delivered to the inclined trough from a receptacle 60 (Fig. 2) by way of a suitable conduit 61. 4

A target 62 may be of great assistance and highly desirable.- Accordingly we provide a target of rectangular form divided into zones, each consisting of an opening 63 normally closed by a flexible cover' 64 which readily yields when struck by a golf ball. The ball displaces the cover 64 enters the box-like structure and finds its Way to the bottom outlet 65 and thru the conduit 66 returns to the inclined trough 48, from whence it enters the passageway 22. For scoring purposes and to indicate the nature of the drives, the covers (il may be numbered as indicated.

From the foregoing it is evident that golf balls may be placed in driving position on the tee 1G merely by depressing and then releasing the pedal 37 or lever. The plate 30 prevents entry of additional balls into the passageway during the teeing operation. However when the ejector 25 assumes the position shown in Fig. 3 a ball enters the passageway just ahead of the ejector preparatory to tecing up the next ball.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

lVhat we claim is:

1. In combination, a tee adapted to support balls in driving position, a target spaced horizontally from the tee, a return conduit thru which driven balls are carried to a position adjacent the tee, and mechanical means for placing balls one at a time on the tee while the latter is disposed to support balls in driving position.

2. In combination, a platform, a tee thereon adapted to support balls in driving posit-ion, and mechanical means for placing balls one at a time on the tee While the latter is disposed to support balls indriving position.

3. In combination, a platform, a tee thereon, a ball reservoir spaced from the tee on said platform, means for ejecting balls one at a time from the reservoir, and mechanical means for placing the ejected balls in driving position on the tee.

4. In combination, a platform, a tee thereon, a ball reservoir spaced from the tee on said platform, means for ejecting balls one at a time from the reservoir and an inclined way adapted to be positioned above the platform for delivering ejected balls to the tee.

5. In combination, a teeadapted to support balls in driving position, a ball reservoir spaced horizontally from the tee, means for ejecting balls one at a time from the reservoir at an elevation higher than the tee, and inclined trackway arranged to direct ejected balls to a position over the tee, a ball receiver formed at the lower end of the trackway, and means for moving the trackway to transfer balls from the receiver to the tee.

6. In combination, a platform, a golf ball tee thereon, a ball reservoir spaced horizontally from the tee, means for ejecting balls one at a time from the reservoir at an elevation higher than the tee, a ball receiver adapted for periodic positioning adjacent the tee, means for depositing ejected balls in the receiver and means for moving the receiver to transfer balls therefrom to the tee.

7. In combination, a platform, a golf ball tee thereon, a golf ball reservoir spaced from the tee, means for ejecting balls one at a time from the reservoir at an elevation higher thanthe tee, mechanical means including an inclined trackway adapted to direct the ejected balls to a driving position on the tee, and means for raising and lowering the track way to alternately place it in operative and inoperative positions.

8. In combination, a platform, a golf ball tee thereon, a trackway, means for placing the trackway in an inclined position above the platform with its lower end adjacent the tee, and mechanical means for placing golf balls on the upper end of the trackway for delivery by gravity to the tee.

9. In combination, a platform, a golf ball tee thereon, a golf ball' reservoir spaced horizontally from the tee on said platform, said reservoir having an outlet facing the tee, manually controlled mechanism for ejecting balls one at a time thru said outlet, and means employing the force of gravity for conducting ejected balls to a driving position on the tee.

10. In combination, a platform, a golf ball tee thereon, a golf ball reservoir spaced horizontally from the tee on said platform, said reservoir having an outlet facing the tee, manually controlled mechanism for ejecting balls one a time thru said outlet and a pair of inclined guide rails for conducting ejected balls to a driving position on the tee.

11. In combination, a platform, a golf ball tee thereon, a golf ball reservoir spaced horizontally from the tee on said platform, said reservoir having an outlet facing the tee, manually controlled mechanism for ejecting balls one at a time thru said outlet, ball conveying means between the reservoir and tee adapted to direct balls to a position on the tee, and means operating in timed relation to actuation of the ball ejecting means for alternately placing the ball conveying means in operative and ino erative positions above and below the plat orm respectively.

12. In combination, a platform, a golf ball tee thereon, a golf ball reservoir spaced horizontally from the tee on said platform, said reservoir having an outlet in a plane above and facing the tee, an ejector in the reservoir, manually controlled means for actuating the ejector to discharge balls one ata time thru the outlet, a guideway pivoted to the reservoir in position to receive balls dischar ed from the latter and means for lacing the guideway in position to convey alls to a posltion on the tee.

13. In combination, a platform, a golf ball tee thereon, a fork-like receiver adapted to be positioned over the tee at times, mechanical means for placing golf balls one at a time in the receiver and means for so moving the receiver relative to the tee that a golf ball in the former is transferred to a driving position on the tee.

14. In combination, a golf ball tee arranged to support golf balls in driving position, and a mechanical device spaced horizontally from and operable entirely independent of the tee for placing balls in driving position on the tee.

15. In combination, a platform, a golf ball tee thereon, a golf ball reservoir spaced horizontally from the tee on said platform, an ejector within the reservoir, means including a foot actuated lever on the platform to oscillate the ejector and thereby discharge balls one at a time from the reservoir at a point above the platform and means for directing the discharged balls to a driving position'on the tee.

16. In combination, a platform, a golf ball tee thereon, a golf ball reservoir spaced horizontally from the tee on said platform, an ejector within the reservoir, means including a foot actuated lever on the platform to oscillate'the ejector and thereby discharge balls one at a time from the reservoir at a point above the platform and including a pair of guide rails and means whereby oscillation of the ejector alternately places the rails in operative and inoperative positions.

17. In combination, a platform, a golf ball tee thereon, a golf ball reservoir spaced horizontally from the tee on said platform, an ejector within the reservoir, means including a foot actuated lever on the platform to oscillate the ejector and thereby discharge balls one at a time from the reservoir at a point above the platform and including a pair of guide rails and means whereby oscillation of the ejector alternately places the rails in operative and inoperative positions above and below the platform respectively.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, this 3rd day of January,

LEONARD D. SOUBIER. EDWIN J. CARL. 

